"Lupe" commemorates the discovery of the remains of a Columbian Mammoth that was found along the river several years ago. The public was inivted to celebrate this occasion, which will included brief remarks covering the historical, artistic and social significance of the discovery and, of course, there was cake.

Participants were encouraged to take creative "selfies" with "Lupe". We invite you to do the same and send them to our Facebook page.

The statue is located just north of Trimble Road at the trailhead.

San Jose Parks Foundation Board Elects Roma Dawson ﻿

Roma Dawson is the newest member of the San Jose Parks Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Ms Dawson is a former San Jose City Council Aide to past Council members, including: Tom McEnery, Charlotte Powers, Cindy Chavez and Sam Liccardo (currently Mayor). She joins the San Jose Parks Foundation Board of Trustees, having been elected at the May meeting.

Roma Dawson brings excellent experience to help the foundation increase parks funding, event planning and development work. Roma believes strongly that all San Jose residents will have the opportunity to enjoy the same love of the outdoors that she did.

San Jose’s Department of Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) endured an almost 50% funding cutback during San Jose’s lean budget years. Roma will join the board at the pivotal time when small budget increases are projected and Park funding can start being restored.

The San Jose Parks Foundation is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for San Jose's parks and trails and the programs within them, by empowering residents and volunteers and securing private donations.

San Jose Parks Foundation Elects Kathy Sutherland Board President ﻿

San Jose Parks Foundation has elected Kathy Sutherland as President of its Board of Trustees. The unanimous vote took place at the August 21 meeting.

Kathy Sutherland brings a wealth of experience to the job of leading the four-year old organization’s Board of Trustees. She has been a longtime advocate for the Foundation, parks and open space, and has served on the Board for the past 18 months.

Kathy has extensive knowledge of the nonprofit sector and served as Chief of Staff to Councilmember Nancy Pyle. She understands the needs of the community, the role of city government, and looks forward to many new partnerships and collaborations.

“Great parks make great communities – I believe that the role of the Foundation is to find creative new ways to help make sure everyone has a park in their neighborhood they can be proud of.”

San Jose Parks Foundation is a community-based nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to empower citizens to preserve the community treasure that is San Jose’s network of Parks and Trails.

More information may be found at the foundation’s website at www.sanjoseparks.org, by calling 408.893.PARK , or by writing to San Jose Parks Foundation, P.O. Box 53841, San Jose, CA 95153.

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San Jose Family Camp Re-opens!!

Good News! San Jose Family Camp is Open Once Again!

San Jose Family Camp has been saved – for now – thanks to some dedicated citizens organizing to do make the kinds of changes needed to make the program worth the investment of the City of San Jose.

Congratulations to the ad hoc group made up mostly of members of the Friends of San Jose Family Camp, but including savvy PR/Marketing professional Barbara Krause (a long time "Family Camp" participant), San Jose Parks Foundation Executive Director James Reber, and recently-retired San Jose City Staffer turned volunteer, Bill Guraro, who used to run the program.

Friends of Family Camp will continue to provide essential volunteer labor, prices will be raised a modest amount and further fundraising will help keep this jewel alive.

The Mercury News ran a story with more details. To read it in full, click here.

Lake Almaden Program and Other San Jose Pool Programs Have Been Saved

Deal Spares San Jose Pools

San Jose residents will get a splash of relief from the city's budget woes this summer, thanks to deals that will keep most pools and swim programs open.

A record $118.5 million budget shortfall forced city officials earlier this year to consider closing most of the city's six pools as well as suspending swim programs at Almaden Lake and a few high schools this summer.

With the clock ticking on San Jose's June 30 budget deadline, city leaders appear to have cobbled plans together to keep public swim centers open in the Gardner and Cambrian neighborhoods and at Almaden Lake.

Despite a tight budget and an earlier plan to keep open only the Camden and Mayfair pools this summer, city parks staff said on May 20 that negotiations are finishing with a private operator to open the Biebrach Pool near the Gardner Community Center on June 14.

Almaden Lake is also expected to open June 16 rather than on Memorial Day weekend as it has in earlier years. San Jose Councilwoman Nancy Pyle challenged private donors in early May to raise $35,000—half the cost of keeping the lake open to swimmers and beachgoers this summer. Pyle's office agreed to pitch in the other $35,000 to meet its need of $70,000.

There are three things the people of San Jose need to know about their parks system in order to save it.

First of all, let me describe what I mean by our "parks system." This includes nearly 3,000 acres of parkland, more than 54 miles of trails, 55 community centers, and all of the programs and services contained therein. For most of us, though, it is a rather personal and comfortable relationship with one of the 200-plus neighborhood parks.

The three things that you need to know:

The budget cuts over the past few years were severe, especially for the department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, which has lost 37 percent of its workforce and 22 percent of its operating budget.

The effect of these cuts is not yet fully visible, but it will be very visible soon. With fewer people and less money, the loss of some maintenance and programs could leave many neighborhoods vulnerable.

You can do something to prevent the loss of these community treasures.

San Jose Parks Foundation is a private nonprofit whose mission is to support these public parks. Our funding comes from people like you, who care about the parks, trails, community centers and the programs and services they provide.﻿